Appealing a Summary Conviction in Pennsylvania

Summary offenses, such as disorderly conduct or many traffic citations, are usually decided first by a magisterial district judge. If you are found guilty, Pennsylvania law gives you 30 days to appeal to the county Court of Common Pleas, and filing that appeal stays the sentence while the case is pending. A summary appeal results in a trial de novo, meaning the case is heard fresh, in front of a different judge, with the chance to present evidence and call witnesses that may not have been part of the first hearing. Because the deadline is strict, timing matters. We help clients file their appeal quickly and prepare a strong case for the new hearing.